Kino Lorber is polishing off director Michael Cimino 1974 caper classic Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, starring Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges as a pair of modern-day outlaws, for Oct. 22 Blu-ray Disc release.
The film turned in a respectable performance at the box office, but reportedly left a bad taste in Eastwood’s mouth. The veteran star felt the film was poorly promoted and vowed to never again work with distributor United Artists, and also felt he was upstaged by Bridges.
The film also marked the directorial debut of Cimino, who in 1978 went on to make the acclaimed The Deer Hunter, only to ding his reputation two years later when he directed the expensive flop Heaven’s Gate.
In Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Thunderbolt (Eastwood) is a former thief whose razor-sharp wits and steely nerves made him a master of his profession, but he’s about to re-enter the criminal world with a new partner: Lightfoot (Bridges), a brash young drifter whose energy and exuberance give the veteran a new outlook on life. Their target: the seemingly impenetrable Montana Armored Depository. After forming an uneasy alliance with Thunderbolt’s former partners in crime, Red Leary (George Kennedy) and Eddie Goody (Geoffrey Lewis), they launch an amazing scheme that will test the limits of their endurance, and the power of their friendship.
The supporting cast includes Catherine Bach, Gary Busey, Jack Dodson, Burton Gilliam, Roy Jenson, Bill McKinney, Vic Tayback, Dub Taylor and Gregory Walcott.